Skip to main content

Razer’s new Chroma docks transform gaming laptops into powerful workstations

 

If you want to convert your gaming laptop into a desktop, Razer’s latest docking accessories do the trick while adding some bling to an otherwise muted desk setup by way of the company’s signature Chroma RGB lighting. Razer has two new docks, which the company says will work with most notebooks — including Apple’s new M1-powered MacBook Pro.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Thunderbolt 4 Dock Chroma functions in a similar manner to other Thunderbolt desktop docks on the market. Like its counterparts, Razer’s offering adds more connectivity options — the company boasted that this dock adds a 10-port hub to your desk setup — in a matte black aluminum enclosure that’s been a hallmark of Razer’s notebook designs.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Given that most people are working, studying, and gaming from home with the pandemic still raging, the Thunderbolt 4 Dock Chroma may be a sound investment to get more power and functionality out of your notebook. The 10 ports include four Thunderbolt 4 over USB-C ports (three downstream and one upstream), an Ethernet jack, three USB-A ports, an SD card reader, and a 3.5mm audio jack. A separate barrel-shaped power connector delivers up to 90 watts of power output to charge your notebook.

Recommended Videos

With a 40 Gbps data transfer rate, the ports will allow you to connect two 4K monitors at 60Hz or expand your desk setup with a whopping 8K display at 30Hz. Power users will also be able to leverage the Thunderbolt 4 connectivity to add an eGPU, like the Razer Core v2, to gain additional graphics performance when docked at their desk.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Laptop Stand Chroma v2 not only raises your laptop to an ergonomic level, but it also adds a four-port hub and uses the same matte black aluminum design. This one swaps the Thunderbolt 4 ports from the Thunderbolt dock for two USB-C ports — one of which is used to connect to a USB-C laptop and the other to connect to a 100W power supply — two USB-A ports, and an HDMI 2.0 port. Razer says that the Laptop Stand Chroma v2 also supports a dual-display setup if you want to connect your laptop to external screens.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The stand weighs 1.3 pounds and measures 8.4 x 19.5 x 2.9 inches on your desk, while the Thunderbolt 4 Dock Chroma weighs in at 0.75 pounds. Razer claimed that both docks will work with Windows 10 PCs with Thunderbolt 4 ports, Mac systems with M1 processors, or older Mac systems with Thunderbolt 3 ports running on MacOS 11.1 Big Sur or later. Both docking accessories support Razer’s Chroma RGB lighting — though Razer Synapse won’t work on Mac machines — so you’ll get a very cohesive look if you’re also a gamer on a Razer Blade laptop. The Thunderbolt 4 dock is priced at $329, while the laptop stand is a cheaper at $149. Both products are available to pre-order through Razer’s website.

Chuong Nguyen
Silicon Valley-based technology reporter and Giants baseball fan who splits his time between Northern California and Southern…
These are all the new mini-LED gaming laptops announced at CES 2023
The Predator Helios 16 open on a table.

CES 2023 brought us a ton of exciting new tech, and that includes a bunch of mini-LED gaming laptops. The use of mini-LEDs is still a bit of a novelty in notebooks, but the technology certainly has its perks, including excellent screen brightness and sharp and deep contrasts.

With some of the latest hardware on the inside and stunning displays on the outside, these mini-LED models may very well turn out to be some of the best gaming laptops of the year. Scroll down to meet these new gems from Asus, Razer, Acer, and MSI.
Razer Blade 16

Read more
The best gaming laptops from CES 2023: ROG, Alienware, Razer, and more
The ROG Zephyrus M16 at a demo table.

Gaming laptops have been a big deal at CES 2023. Thanks to the latest chips from Intel, AMD, and Nvidia, we've had a huge slate of new gaming laptops to check out at the show this year.
But the ones that stood out did more than just update to the latest RTX 40-series graphics cards. These are the devices that ventured into something new and presented an interesting new vision for the future of gaming laptops.

ROG Zephyrus M16

Read more
CES 2023: Razer teases Blade 16 and Blade 18, a return to large gaming laptops
The profile of the Razer Blade 17 on a table.

Large gaming laptops are back, and even Razer is getting in on the fun. The company has teased the launch of two new large-format gaming laptops: the Razer Blade 16 and the Razer Blade 18. Both laptops are new to the lineup and don't yet replace the existing models, which include the Razer Blade 15 and Blade 17.

There's very little being revealed at the moment, though -- beyond the sizes, of course. Razer has only added a smattering of details for now, though more is surely coming on these new gaming laptops. First off, both new gaming laptops will use the latest 13th-gen Intel Core i9 HX processors, as well as RTX 40-series graphics up to an RTX 4090.

Read more